Proposed 2020 legislation would:
- Require relevant legislation receive an equity score that is both quantitative and qualitative to estimate the impact on frontline communities. This equity score would be modeled after the economic scores provided by the Congressional Budget Office.
- Require that relevant rules and regulations that have significant impact on frontline communities undergo an additional level of review. This review will aim to mitigate negative impacts, maximize benefits, and bring representatives from frontline communities into the regulatory review process.
- Require relevant federal grant-making and investment programs undergo review to ensure that frontline communities benefit by targeting investments and addressing existing barriers.
- Establish an independent Office of Climate and Environmental Justice Accountability with a Board of Advisors made up of members and allies of frontline communities to represent the views of frontline communities in rulemaking at the beginning of the rulemaking process.
- Establish a new position of Director for Climate and Environmental Justice at all relevant agencies to ensure compliance and coordination.
- Require that representatives of frontline communities are at the table during the drafting and review of relevant rules and regulation.